Uranium Resources in New Mexico

1. Uranium Resources in New Mexico

6. ACQUISITION • Mining Claims on Federal Land • State Lease • Indian Lease • Private Mineral (owned or leased) • OPERATIONS • Federal Surface Management Agencies • NM Mining and Minerals Division • Indian Leases (43 CFR 3590) • Nuclear Regulatory Commission • EPA/ NMED • State Historic Preservation Division

7. New Claims

8. MMD Permits Filed Approved Pending Denied/Withdrawn Private 1 2 4 USFS 3 0 5 State 2 0 0 BLM 1 0 1

9. NM Uranium Facilities (1979) ALL MILLS ON PRIVATE LAND 27 Private 1 State 1 Federal 3 Laguna Tribal 2 Navajo Tribal 1 Navajo Trust 1 Navajo Trust/Private Mineral

10. NM State & Federal Permitting • BLM and Forest Service • Casual Use • Notice • Plan of Operations • MMD • Minimal Impact Permit • Non-Minimal Impact Permit

11. Legal Considerations Dine Natural Resources Protection Act of 2005 (DNRPA) Indian Country Traditional Cultural Property (TCP)

13. Environmental, Economic and Political Considerations • Navajo Nation • Pueblos • Acoma, Zuni, Laguna • Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM) • Southwest Research and Information Center • NM Environmental Law Center

14. Environmental, Economic and Political Considerations • Cibola and McKinley County Governments • Grants City Merchants • Eastern Navajo Allottee Association • Governor Bill (?)

16. Conclusions The regulatory processes of the various State and Federal agencies need clarification and coordination.

17. Conclusions BLM NM is responsible for the most Indian mineral acreage with uranium reserves.

18. Conclusions The majority of future operations in NM can be expected to be on private land.

19. Conclusions NM is one of the most politically and environmentally charged states because of the legacy of past uranium mining on Indian lands, especially Navajo lands.

20. Conclusions Political & environmental pressures at all governmental levels could result in a moratorium/regional EIS or even a prohibition on uranium development.